Tag: pubmed

Front Nutr. 2025 Jul 1;12:1624173. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1624173. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The cross-sectional association of dietary fiber intake with gallstone disease in United States adults remains to be comprehensively elucidated.

METHODS: We used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2017-2023. The assessment of dietary fiber intake was derived from 24-h dietary recalls. Stratified analyses were then used to demonstrate dietary fiber intake corresponding to different groups of gallstone and non-gallstone conditions. The use of weighted logistic regression was employed to explore the correlation between dietary fiber intake and gallstone disease. Subgroup and interaction analyses were used to identify potential interacting factors. Additionally, restricted cubic spline was used to assess the dose-response between dietary fiber and gallstone risk.

RESULTS: The study population comprised 9,273 patients, with a gallstone prevalence of 10.47% (971 cases). In the context of various subgroups, patients diagnosed with gallstones exhibited a reduced dietary fiber intake in comparison with individuals not bearing gallstones. In the fully adjusted model, an inverse association was observed between dietary fiber intake and gallstone disease (odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI); 0.98 (0.96,1.00), p value = 0.039). The highest quartile of dietary fiber intake exhibited a lower risk of gallstone disease in comparison with the lowest quartile (quartile 4 vs. quartile 1: 0.65 (0.45, 0.94), p value = 0.022). The inverse correlation between dietary fiber intake and the prevalence of gallstones was found to be statistically significant in several subgroups, including males, Hispanic individuals, those with less than a high school education, alcohol consumers, and individuals diagnosed with diabetes. Furthermore, the analysis of dose-response curves indicated a nearly linear correlation between dietary fiber intake and the risk of gallstone development.

CONCLUSION: Dietary fiber intake is inversely associated with gallstone disease in United States adults. Adequate dietary fiber intake may be beneficial in reducing gallstone prevalence.

PMID:40667433 | PMC:PMC12259441 | DOI:10.3389/fnut.2025.1624173

Rwanda J Med Health Sci. 2021 Dec 30;4(3):398-405. doi: 10.4314/rjmhs.v4i3.9. eCollection 2021 Dec.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Unpredictable numbers of patients attending emergency departments highlight the need for Triage. Triage which is the prioritization of patient care based on severity of illness or injury, prognosis, and availability of resources is effective when clinicians are knowledgeable and skilled to perform it.

OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge and skills on triage among nurses working in emergency departments of Rwandan referral hospitals.

METHODS: Cross-sectional analytical design was adopted. ninety-six (96) nurses working in emergency departments were selected using proportionate stratified sampling method. Each hospital was considered as a stratum. A self-administered questionnaire and observation checklist were use as instruments. Inferential and descriptive statistics were used in analysis.

RESULTS: The majority of participants (63.6%) demonstrated low level of triage knowledge and almost a half (47.9%) of participants had low level of triage skills. Nurses experience in emergency department, level of education and triage training were not found to significantly influence triage knowledge and skills positively (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Deficit in triage knowledge and skills were revealed among nurses working in emergency departments in Rwanda. Accredited continuous educational training on triage should be regularly provided to enhance knowledge and skills of emergency department nurses on Triage.

PMID:40667415 | PMC:PMC12257236 | DOI:10.4314/rjmhs.v4i3.9

Rwanda J Med Health Sci. 2021 Dec 30;4(3):334-340. doi: 10.4314/rjmhs.v4i3.2. eCollection 2021 Dec.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and related social distancing measures have an impact on physical activity levels.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the physical activity (PA) levels of the physiotherapy students in Rwanda during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

METHODS: We used a descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study design. Eighty-one participants were recruited, and data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. We used descriptive statistics, Pearson Chi-Square and Kruskal-Wallis tests to assess whether there were statistically significant differences in physical activity levels according to demographic variables.

RESULTS: The median total PA metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-minutes/week score for all the participants together was 3546 (IQR=8714), meaning high PA. The rates for high, moderate, and low PA levels were 54.4%, 31.7% and 13.9% respectively. Male and rural participants had higher median total PA MET score than females (p=0.008) and urban residents (p=0.018) respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The PA levels of the study participants during the COVID-19 lockdown period were higher than the recommended standards. Females and urban participants appeared to be less physically active than their counterparts. Further similar studies and interventions towards PA promotion among university students in Rwanda during the pandemic are suggested.

PMID:40667412 | PMC:PMC12257235 | DOI:10.4314/rjmhs.v4i3.2

Rwanda J Med Health Sci. 2021 Dec 30;4(3):379-386. doi: 10.4314/rjmhs.v4i3.7. eCollection 2021 Dec.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Surgery cancellation is a challenging and costly event resulting in operating theatre inefficiency and psychological and financial problems for the patients and their families. This study aimed to find out the incidence and reasons for surgical cancellation at a Rwandan hospital.

METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 736 patients’ files obtained from theatre registry lists of surgical operations done from January to March 2017. The American Association of Perioperative Nurses (AORN) checklist for documenting cancelled surgical cases was used to establish the rate and reasons for cancellation. Data were analyzed using frequency and percentage descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: Out of the 736 surgeries booked, 179 (24.3%) were cancelled as follows: Orthopedic and general surgeries (28.2%) respectively, gynecology and obstetrics (27.4%), urology surgeries (15.5%), maxillofacial surgeries (15.9%), ENT (15.6%) and plastic surgeries (13.3%). Time constrain/long list (19.6%), acute change in medical status (10.6%), non-turn-up of the patient (8.4%), and abnormal lab findings (7.8%) were the most prevalent reasons.

CONCLUSION: The surgical cancellation rate at the study hospital was 24%, increasing with the number of patients booked and the type of surgical procedure. A prospective study is required to gain more insight into the reason for cancellations, mostly amenable to mitigation measures.

PMID:40667410 | PMC:PMC12257229 | DOI:10.4314/rjmhs.v4i3.7

Rwanda J Med Health Sci. 2021 Dec 30;4(3):341-346. doi: 10.4314/rjmhs.v4i3.3. eCollection 2021 Dec.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Dental caries is still a health problem worldwide, its prevalence and incidence are associated with various factors like age, sex, social status, dietary patterns and oral hygiene habits.

METHODOLOGY: A Secondary data collected from outreaches done by UR CMHS, School of Dentistry at Kimironko II Primary School was analyzed. This secondary data had been obtained using structured questionnaires with close ended questions. Clinical examination had also been done to gather information. SPSS statistical software package version 22 was used to analyse data from Community outreach done at Kimironko Primary School in August 2019.

RESULTS: The prevalence of dental caries of 42.4% was found among children aged 6-12 years old of Kimironko II Primary School. The researchers found the following to be statistically significantly associated with prevalence of dental caries: gender (p=0.042), dental visits (p=0.001), and use of chew sticks or miswaks (p=0.041). Females were 1.4 times more likely to develop dental caries (OR: 1.462; 95% CI: 1.16-2.017; p=0.021) and children who did not use toothpick were 2 times more likely to develop dental caries (OR: 2.149; 95%CI: 1.251-4.395; p=0.036), whereas visiting a dental practitioner was protective against dental caries (OR: 0.362, 95% CI: 0.251-0.516; p=0.001).

CONCLUSION: Dental caries is prevalent among children of Kimironko II Primary School. Appropriate preventive measures should be taken to protect those found to be exposed.

PMID:40667405 | PMC:PMC12257230 | DOI:10.4314/rjmhs.v4i3.3

Front Psychol. 2025 Jul 1;16:1604916. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1604916. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to explore the relationship between physical exercise and sleep quality. Specifically, it investigates the extent to which this relationship is mediated by a sequential process involving health literacy and life satisfaction.

METHODS: Data on physical exercise, sleep quality, health literacy, and life satisfaction were collected from a sample of 12,646 college students (study participants) using a questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS and AMOS software, including descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis.

RESULTS: Correlation analyses revealed a weak positive correlation between physical exercise and sleep quality (r = 0.290), a significant positive correlation between physical exercise and health literacy (r = 0.203, p < 0.01), and a significant positive correlation between physical exercise and life satisfaction (r = 0.374, p < 0.01). Conversely, sleep quality exhibited a significant negative correlation with health literacy (r = -0.091, p < 0.01) and a significant negative correlation with life satisfaction (r = -0.228, p < 0.01). Health literacy and life satisfaction were significantly positively correlated (r = 0.352, p < 0.01). Regression analysis indicated that physical exercise did not directly and significantly predict sleep quality (β = -0.010). This study exhibits a complete mediation effect. However, mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect effect of physical exercise on sleep quality through health literacy (95% CI: [-0.022, -0.013]) and life satisfaction (95% CI: [-0.024, -0.015]). Furthermore, a significant chain-mediating effect was observed, wherein physical exercise influenced sleep quality sequentially through health literacy and life satisfaction (95% CI: [-0.018, -0.013]). The non-significant direct effect of physical exercise on sleep quality and the significant indirect impact suggest that the relationship between physical exercise and sleep quality is primarily mediated through health literacy and life satisfaction. These findings highlight the crucial role of health literacy and life satisfaction as mediators in this relationship.

CONCLUSION: While physical exercise did not exert a direct and significant effect on sleep quality in this study, the significant mediating roles of health literacy and life satisfaction suggest potential avenues for intervention. Specifically, these findings imply that multifaceted approaches, encompassing strategies to promote physical activity, enhance health literacy, and improve life satisfaction, may improve sleep quality among college students.

PMID:40667398 | PMC:PMC12262059 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1604916

Front Psychol. 2025 Jul 1;16:1577912. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1577912. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The persistent challenges in geometry performance among secondary school students in Nigeria demand innovative teaching methods that extend beyond conventional strategies.

OBJECTIVE: This pretest and post-test quasi-experimental study investigated the effectiveness of brainstorming as an instructional approach to improve students’ geometry performance.

METHODS: The research involved 140 students from two coeducational public secondary schools, with 73 students assigned to an experimental group taught using the brainstorming strategy. In comparison, 67 students were placed in a control group that received instruction through the conventional method. Data were collected using the Geometry Performance Test (GPT) with a reliability coefficient of 0.83 obtained using the test-retest method. The data generated were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to address the research questions and test the study’s hypotheses.

RESULTS: The results indicated that the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in posttest scores, F _{(1, 137)} = 227.124, p < 0.001, with a mean score of 66.99 (SD = 9.17) compared to 46.76 (SD = 6.18) in the control group. No significant gender difference was observed in performance gains, F _{(1, 34)} = 1.609, p = 0.213, suggesting that brainstorming is an effective teaching strategy without gender bias.

CONCLUSION: These findings show the potential of brainstorming as a powerful tool for improving students’ performance in geometry with equitable effectiveness among male and female secondary students. Thus, we recommended that educators should integrate brainstorming into their mathematics classrooms as a proxy to close performance gaps among male and female students in mathematics and improve students’ performance in mathematics. As this study was conducted in two public secondary schools in Kaduna State, Nigeria, we acknowledge that the findings are context-specific and may not be generalizable without caution.

PMID:40667397 | PMC:PMC12259421 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1577912

Front Psychol. 2025 Jul 1;16:1585437. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1585437. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: ‘Apparitions, hauntings, and poltergeists’ are universally reported phenomena with significant psychological and social implications. Despite their prevalence, the scientific study of these anomalous experiences remains fragmented, and misinformation is widespread. To address this gap, a resource titled “Fact Sheet: Ghostly Episodes at a Glance” was developed to provide an evidence-based summary for educational and clinical use.

METHODS: This preliminary study evaluated the Fact Sheet’s content validity through an AI-based verification procedure. Additionally, we assessed its accessibility, utility, and global favorability among four groups: lay percipients, lay non-percipients (information-seekers), clinical practitioners, and amateur paranormal investigators (information-providers).

RESULTS: The Fact Sheet demonstrated strong content validity, accessibility, usefulness, and favorability across all groups. However, participants suggested refinements to enhance readability and contextual depth. Statistical analysis revealed small but significant differences in global favorability scores, with information-providers more strongly endorsing the resource than information-seekers.

CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the importance of scientifically-grounded, accessible resources in educating diverse audiences about anomalous experiences. The study highlights the value of data-driven public education in this domain and offers specific recommendations for improving future iterations of the Fact Sheet to boost engagement and comprehension in both educational and clinical settings.

PMID:40667394 | PMC:PMC12259700 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1585437

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2025 Dec;38(1):2529438. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2025.2529438. Epub 2025 Jul 15.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Current definitions of second-stage labor arrest rely on arbitrary time limits-at least 2 h for multiparous patients and 3 h for nulliparous patients-yet the utility of these time-based definitions remains limited due to their failure to account for physiologic variability and rest periods. This study evaluates alternative metrics, including total pushes, pushing duration, and pushing force, to better quantify second-stage labor progression. We hypothesized that patients with obesity would require more pushes and spend more time pushing, with an anticipated increase in cumulative force.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study of nulliparous term patients with singleton pregnancies at a single tertiary care center. Patients were grouped by BMI at admission (< 35 kg/m² vs. ≥ 35 kg/m²) to evaluate differences in pushing effort and delivery outcomes. The primary outcomes-total number of pushes, cumulative pushing time, and expulsive force-were assessed among patients who achieved a vaginal delivery. Secondary outcomes included labor characteristics, maternal morbidity, and neonatal outcomes. Statistical comparisons between BMI groups were performed using appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests.

RESULTS: Among 273 patients, the mean second-stage duration was 82.5 min, involving 54.9 pushes and 11.2 min of active pushing. Patients who exceeded the 90^th percentile for push count (116 overall; 104 for BMI < 35 kg/m² and 141 for BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²) were significantly more likely to undergo cesarean delivery. Patients with obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²) required, on average, 18 more pushes (p = 0.001) and 2 additional minutes of pushing efforts (p = 0.011) to achieve vaginal delivery. This association remained true after excluding operative and cesarean deliveries. Operative and second-stage cesarean deliveries involved significantly more total pushes compared to spontaneous vaginal deliveries (58 vs. 40.5, p = 0.012), and the rate of operative delivery increased sixfold once the number of pushes exceeded 115.

CONCLUSION: Patients with obesity demonstrated a need for increased effort to achieve vaginal delivery, including a higher number of pushes and a longer pushing duration. These findings support using the 90^th percentile threshold for total pushes (116 overall; 104 for BMI < 35 kg/m² and 141 for BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²) as a clinically meaningful benchmark for assessing second-stage labor progression, given the observed rise in operative and cesarean delivery rates beyond this point. Incorporating these objective metrics into labor management may allow for a more individualized and physiologically grounded approach to evaluating second-stage progress.

PMID:40665477 | DOI:10.1080/14767058.2025.2529438

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2025 Dec;38(1):2531146. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2025.2531146. Epub 2025 Jul 15.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy on fetal myocardial remodeling and cardiac function applying two-dimensional speckle tracking techniques.

METHODS: This is a case-control study with a 1:1 ratio, including fetuses with normal development and those exposed to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. A total of 108 fetuses were included in the study, comprising 54 in the case group and 54 in the control group. A series of parameters, including ventricular size, spherical index, ejection fraction, myocardial strain, fractional change in ventricular area, and short axis shortening rate, were measured using Fetal HQ software with two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging. Statistical methods were employed to compare the case and control groups, with the aim of assessing the impact of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy on fetal myocardial remodeling and cardiac function.

RESULTS: (1) The end-diastolic longitudinal diameter and area of the right ventricle in the HDP group were statistically significantly smaller than those in the control group (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the longitudinal and transverse diameters and areas of the four-chambered heart, as well as the longitudinal diameter and area of the left ventricle, when comparing the two groups (p > 0.05). (2) In terms of fetal cardiac morphology, the right ventricular segments 2-7 SI in the HDP group were observed to be smaller than those in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Conversely, the differences between the two groups in right ventricular segment 1, right ventricular segments 8-24 SI, left ventricular segments 24 SI and four-chambered cardiac GSI were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). (3) In terms of fetal ventricular systolic function, the HDP group exhibited lower left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac output, right ventricular GLS, left and right ventricular FAC, left ventricular FS in segments 10-24, and right ventricular FS in segments 11-16 than the control group. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the left ventricular GLS, GCS, and right ventricular free wall St, left ventricular segments 1-9, and right ventricular segments 1-10 and 4-chamber GSI were observed to be lower than those of the control group. The GLS, GCS, and free wall St of the right ventricle, as well as the GLS, GCS, and free wall St of the left ventricle (segments 1-9) and the right ventricle (segments 1-10 and 12-24) were also evaluated.

CONCLUSION: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) have been demonstrated to affect fetal myocardial remodeling and contractile function, with a more pronounced impact observed on the right ventricle compared to the left ventricle. Two-dimensional speckle tracking technology offers the potential to provide more detailed information for the quantitative assessment of fetal size, morphology and cardiac function.

PMID:40665473 | DOI:10.1080/14767058.2025.2531146